Chapter 62: Self-Recommendation, Demonstrating Abilities

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Self-Recommendation, Demonstrating Abilities

"Excuse me, I’m here for a self-recommended enrollment. Could you tell me what the process is?" Ji Zhixing asked, giving a slight bow as he arrived at the guardhouse of Yu City University.

The security guard paused and looked at him. Having worked this post for over a decade, he had seen plenty of self-recommended applicants, but Ji Zhixing felt like the youngest one yet. Dressed in ordinary clothes, the boy looked like he had just graduated from high school.

"Not bad, kid." A smile broke across the guard’s face. "Evolving your gene at such a young age is impressive. Come on, I’ll take you to see Teacher Yang. She should be in the administration building right now."

"Thank you."

Ji Zhixing followed the guard into the campus of Yu City University. Tall parasol trees lined the pathways, their dense foliage filtering the sunlight and casting dappled shadows on the ground. In the distance, buildings of various architectural styles dotted the landscape. Some were strikingly modern, with glass facades reflecting the sky, while others exuded a classical charm, their sweeping eaves and interlocking brackets carrying the weight of history.

"Little brother, which school did you graduate from?" the guard asked as they walked.

"Yu City Third Middle School. I just graduated this year," Ji Zhixing answered truthfully.

The guard’s footsteps faltered. He gave the boy another look, this time with a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Just graduated? You must be eighteen or nineteen, right? And you’ve already evolved your gene? That’s amazing!"

"I just got lucky," Ji Zhixing replied with a smile.

"Luck doesn’t explain this." The guard shook his head, admiration gleaming in his eyes. "You’re the first person I’ve ever seen complete a gene evolution right out of high school."

They followed the tree-lined path for about ten minutes before stopping in front of a pale gray administration building. The guard led him to the first floor, stopped outside an office, and knocked.

"Come in," a woman’s voice called out from within.

The guard pushed the door open and stepped aside to let Ji Zhixing enter first.

The office was simply yet elegantly furnished, and the faint aroma of tea lingered in the air. Behind a spacious oak desk sat a woman who looked to be in her thirties. Dressed in a light blue professional suit, her long hair was pinned up, revealing a slender neck. She was quite beautiful, and her features gave off a gentle, intellectual aura. She had been looking down at some documents but raised her head at the sound of their entry.

"Teacher Yang, a student is here for a self-recommended enrollment," the guard announced.

"Thank you for the trouble," Yang Man Ni nodded, shifting her gaze to Ji Zhixing.

The guard turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Yang Man Ni looked Ji Zhixing up and down, a flash of the same surprise the guard had shown crossing her eyes. Pointing to the chair across from her desk, she offered a polite smile. "My name is Yang Man Ni, but you can just call me Teacher Yang. Have a seat first. Don’t be nervous."

"Hello, Teacher Yang. My name is Ji Zhixing." He offered a respectful bow before taking a seat opposite her.

"Did you bring your ID?" Yang Man Ni asked.

Ji Zhixing pulled out his ID card and handed it over.

Yang Man Ni took it and swiped it on a machine next to her. As Ji Zhixing’s information popped up on the screen, her expression gradually morphed into one of astonishment. She had worked at Yu City University for eight years and had seen all kinds of geniuses. But a case like Ji Zhixing’s—dual gene apertures, merging a trash gene, and completing a gene evolution right after graduating at eighteen... That was truly unprecedented.

"You’re a fresh graduate from Yu City Third Middle School this year? Dual gene apertures?" She looked up at him. "And for one of those apertures, you chose to merge the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene?"

"Yes," Ji Zhixing nodded.

Yang Man Ni set the ID card down and leaned forward slightly, looking at him with keen interest. "I’ll need you to demonstrate your gene. We’ll also have to register your gene abilities afterward."

She was genuinely curious about what his Three-inch Stone Monkey gene could have evolved into. Standing up, she pointed to an empty space in the center of the office. "Right here. Let me see your gene phantom."

"Alright."

Ji Zhixing took two steps back to clear enough room. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. With a single thought, he activated the dormant Staff Soldier Stone Monkey gene within his Dantian.

Instantly, the phantom of a stone monkey materialized. Its grayish-brown fur stood on end like steel needles, and it gripped a thick stone staff in its hands, its gaze domineering. Even though it was merely a phantom, it radiated a blood-soaked, battle-hardened aura, looking as if it could leap out of the void at any moment to deliver a sweeping blow.

Yang Man Ni stared at the stone monkey, a flicker of astonishment in her eyes. "What kind of gene is this? It actually comes with a weapon phantom? I’ve never even seen this form in the illustrated handbooks."

She considered herself quite knowledgeable. Yu City University enrolled thousands of freshmen every year, and she had seen almost every bizarre gene imaginable. She had even witnessed plenty of Tier Three and Tier Four gene phantoms. Yet, this staff-wielding stone monkey radiating such intense battle intent was an absolute first.

"It’s the Staff Soldier Stone Monkey," Ji Zhixing explained. "The evolved form of the Three-inch Stone Monkey gene."

"Staff Soldier Stone Monkey..." Yang Man Ni repeated the name softly, tapping on her keyboard to record it. She looked back up at him and stood. "That will do. Follow me to the training field so you can demonstrate your abilities."

Ji Zhixing nodded and followed her out of the office.

Ji Zhixing knew that what he had just shown was already enough to secure his admission into Yu City University. Yang Man Ni asking to see his abilities was likely to determine which teacher would be the best fit to recommend him to. Aside from regular class assignments, some teachers at the university would take on personal disciples. Once a student was formally accepted by a master, they would gain access to additional resources.

The two left the administration building and walked along a stone-paved path toward the training field. Along the way, Yang Man Ni inquired about his abilities, and Ji Zhixing answered in full detail.

"Three-Star quality Gigantification, Innate Staff Heart, Stone Skin, Two-Star quality Stone Heart, and you’ve mastered three Tier One Two-Star Staff Techniques?"

Yang Man Ni had been making notes on her datapad as they walked. Hearing his breakdown, a look of utter surprise washed over her face, and her footsteps involuntarily slowed. While this build couldn’t compare to students who had merged Tier Three genes, it far outclassed the vast majority of the incoming freshmen who had merged Tier Two genes. Among the Tier Two cohort, Ji Zhixing was absolutely the cream of the crop.

Moreover, he held one massive advantage over the rest: he possessed dual gene apertures.

"Hello, Teacher Yang."

"Teacher Yang."

As soon as they arrived at the training field, several students walked over to greet her. Yang Man Ni nodded in response to each of them.

Once the students were out of earshot, she turned her head to Ji Zhixing. "I’m the teacher in charge of this year’s freshmen. Many of those kids just now belong to the incoming class. Even though the semester at Yu City University hasn’t officially started, freshmen are allowed to arrive early."

Ji Zhixing nodded, his gaze sweeping over the students in the distance. They all looked to be around his age. However, compared to the arrogance that the Tier Two students back at Yu City Third Middle School casually exuded, these students seemed much more grounded.

"This spot will do. The testing zone is empty right now." Yang Man Ni led him to an open area marked by white lines on the field. "Use your Gigantification ability first. Let me see it."

"Alright." Ji Zhixing nodded and took a few steps forward.

"Teacher Yang, what’s going on?" A few freshmen wandered over from nearby, drawn by the activity. They gathered around curiously, watching Ji Zhixing standing in the center.

"He’s a self-recommended freshman enrolling this year," Yang Man Ni explained casually, her eyes remaining fixed on Ji Zhixing.

"Self-recommended? What’s that?" The freshmen exchanged bewildered glances. Since they had all been directly recruited by Yu City University after merging Tier Two genes, they had no idea what the self-recommendation process entailed. Only one student seemed to know and quickly explained it, clearing up the confusion for the rest.

"Impressive. Evolving a gene within two years—that’s seriously impressive."

"It really is."

The group sighed in admiration. Even if Ji Zhixing had only evolved a Tier One gene, they knew how difficult an undertaking that was.

"Teacher Yang, what gene did this classmate initially merge with?" a tall boy asked curiously.

"The Three-inch Stone Monkey gene," Yang Man Ni answered truthfully, as there was no need to keep it a secret.

"Three-inch Stone Monkey? I’ve heard of that gene beast before. Someone actually chose to merge with it? Can a gene like that even evolve?" The freshman who had just been praising Ji Zhixing’s skills suddenly gaped in disbelief.

"Even if a gene like that evolved to Tier Two, it shouldn’t be very strong, right?" another chimed in. They kept their voices low, muttering among themselves so Ji Zhixing wouldn’t overhear.

Yang Man Ni stayed silent. On the surface, the students admitted to Yu City University seemed humble enough, but deep down, many still viewed themselves as heaven’s chosen. However, once the semester started and the true rankings and competitions began, a good portion of them would realize that they were merely average drops in the ocean that was Yu City University.

But today, she had a feeling that Ji Zhixing’s display of power was going to leave these freshmen thoroughly shell-shocked. It might even teach them that there was always a bigger fish in the pond.

"Teacher Yang, I’m beginning," Ji Zhixing called out in a low voice.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward. The genetic source power within him surged through his limbs and bones like floodwaters bursting through a dam.

BOOM!

His body shot up violently. His bones let out faint popping sounds as his muscles rapidly expanded beneath his clothes.

Two point one meters!

Two point three meters!

Two point five meters...

Two point seven meters!

His colossal figure cast a long shadow beneath the sunlight. The Tide Listening Rod in his hand resonated with his transformation, radiating a heavy, suffocating pressure. A domineering aura rippled outward from him in all directions. The whispering freshmen instantly fell silent, their eyes bugging out of their heads.

Even the students further away snapped their attention toward the testing area, staring over in sheer dumbfoundment.